Cercis plant named ‘RNI-RCC3’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Cercis  plant named ‘RNI-RCC3’ is disclosed, characterized by distinctive, dark purple foliage that retains its color in heat. Plants are very straight and upright, with exceptional vigor. The new variety is a  Cercis , normally used for outdoor ornamental purposes.

Latin name of the genus and species: Cercis canadensis.

Variety denomination: ‘RNI-RCC3’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Cercis cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Wisconsin. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a highly vigorous plant with dark purple, persistent foliage color, and a straight, upright habit. The new variety is the result of open pollination occurring during the Summer of 2015.

The new variety was developed through an open pollination program in which seed was bulk collected from various unnamed varieties of Cercis canadensis. As the seed was bulk collected and resulted from open-pollination, both parents cannot be accurately identified. The new variety was selected on May 5, 2017, by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the open pollination, in a commercial nursery in Oregon.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar has been performed by budding. This was first performed at a commercial nursery in McMinnville, Oreg., Aug. 15, 2018, and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in multiple successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘RNI-RCC3’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘RNI-RCC3’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘RNI-RCC3’ as a new and distinct Cercis cultivar:

-   -   1. Dark purple foliage.     -   2. Retains distinctive foliage color even in heat.     -   3. Exceptional vigor, reaching 10-12′ in one year.     -   4. Very straight, upright habit.

PARENT COMPARISON

Parent comparisons are unavailable, as both parents are unidentified.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘RNI-RCC3’ are comparable to the commercial variety Cercis ‘Forest Pansy’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,556. The two Cercis varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘RNI-RCC3’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Plants of the new variety grow more vigorously than plants of         this comparator.     -   2. Plants of the new variety have longer internodes than plants         of this comparator.     -   3. Plants of the new variety are taller, with larger calipers         than plants of this comparator.     -   4. Trunks of the new variety are very straight; trunks of this         comparator are less straight.     -   5. Plants of the new variety have darker purple foliage than         plants of this comparator.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘RNI-RCC3’ are comparable to the commercial variety Cercis ‘JN16’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,627. The two Cercis varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘RNI-RCC3’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Plants of the new variety have darker purple foliage than         plants of this comparator.     -   2. Plants of the new variety are taller than plants of this         comparator.     -   3. Plants of the new variety have a more upright habit than         plants of this comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates flowering plants outdoors at approximately 4 years old in McMinnville, Oreg.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a close-up view of the foliage of ‘RNI-RCC3’.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up of the flowers.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2015 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘RNI-RCC3’ plants grown in a poly-house in Grand Haven, Mich. The growing temperature ranged from approximately 18° C. to 27° C. during the day and from approximately 5° C. to 10° C. during the night. General light conditions are normal sunlight and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Cercis canadensis ‘RNI-RCC3’.

PROPAGATION

-   Type of propagation typically used: Budding. -   Root description: Medium to thick, moderately dense, fleshy,     moderately branching. Brown to white in color, not accurately     measured with R.H.S. Chart.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: 4 years old. -   Container size: 10 gallon container. -   Overall plant shape: Upright small tree. -   Growth habit: Upwards. -   Plant spread: 150 cm. -   Plant height: 250 cm. -   Plant vigor: Vigorous. -   Length of primary lateral branches: 75 cm. -   Diameter of lateral branches: 7 mm.     -   -   Quantity of lateral branches: 12-15. -   Aspect angle: Acute. -   Internode length: 3.5 cm. -   Trunk:     -   -   Diameter.—About 2 cm measured at approximately 40 cm above             soil level at 4 years.         -   Color.—RHS Brown 200B, with Grey-Brown 199B lenticels.         -   Texture.—Somewhat rough with pronounced lenticels.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single.         -   Average length.—10 cm.         -   Average width.—10 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Heart-shaped/deltoid.         -   Aspect.—Strong upward fold along center.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth, soft, glossy.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth and soft, with pronounced             venation.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Brown 200A, with             some Purple N77A. Young foliage under side: Near RHS Purple             N77A. Mature foliage upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 147A, with             tinges of Brown 200A. Mature foliage under side: RHS             Yellow-Green 148B, with Purple N77A near veins.         -   Venation.—Type: Palmate. Venation color upper side: RHS             Yellow-Green 144B. Venation color under side: RHS             Greyed-Orange 176B.         -   Petiole.—Length: 3 cm. Diameter: 2 cm. Texture, upper side:             Glabrous. Texture, under side: Glabrous. Color, upper side:             Near RHS Brown 200A. Color, under side: Near RHS Brown 200A.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: April and May in Michigan. -   Flowers:     -   -   Arrangement.—Single axillary flowers in small groups of             around 4.         -   Type.—Single flowers on axillary branches.         -   Diameter.—13 mm.         -   Length.—14 mm.         -   Depth.—1 cm.         -   Aspect.—Outwards.         -   Persistence.—Self-cleaning.         -   Fragrance.—None. -   Petals:     -   -   Arrangement.—Papilionaceous.         -   Number.—3 upper, 2 lower.         -   Shape.—Pea-like.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Tip shape.—Rounded.         -   Base shape.—Attenuate.         -   Length.—Upper: 8 mm. Lower: 1 cm.         -   Width.—Upper: 4 mm. Lower: 4 mm.         -   Texture.—Upper: Smooth. Lower: Smooth.         -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: Top: RHS Violet 84C;             bottom: Red-Purple N74C. Under surface: Top: RHS Violet 84C;             bottom: Red-Purple N74B near apex, fading to N74D near base.             Fully opened: Upper surface: Top: RHS Violet 84C; bottom:             Red-Purple N74C. Under surface: Top: RHS Violet 84C; bottom:             Red-Purple N74B near apex, fading to N74D near base. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Papilionaceous.         -   Length.—1 cm.         -   Diameter.—4 mm.         -   Color.—RHS Purple 77C towards the base, to Red-Purple 71C at             the top. -   Sepals: None. -   Calyx:     -   -   Shape.—Campanulate. Red purple 59A.         -   Length.—4 mm.         -   Diameter.—4 mm.         -   Color.—RHS Red-Purple 59A. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—11 mm.         -   Diameter.—Less than 1 mm.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—RHS Red-Purple 59A.         -   Strength.—Flexible. -   Pedicel: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—10.         -   Filament length.—5 mm.         -   Filament color.—RHS Red-Purple 59D. -   Anthers:     -   -   Shape.—Globose.         -   Length.—Less than 1 mm.         -   Color.—RHS Violet-Blue N92A.         -   Pollen.—Amount: Moderate. Color: RHS White 155A. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Length.—5 mm.         -   Style.—Length: 7 mm. Color: RHS Red-Purple 59A. -   Stigma:     -   -   Shape.—Round.         -   Color.—RHS Red-Purple 59A.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Fruits and seeds: Not observed to date. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     normal diseases and pests of Cercis observed. -   Temperature range: USDA ZONES 5 TO 9. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Cercis plant named ‘RNI-RCC3’ as herein illustrated and described. 